Warm-up and MobilityPsychology & Mental Health All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Rory McIlroy's Bad Warm-Up: Should He Worry?

Name: Rory McIlroy's Bad Warm-Up: Should He Worry?
Uploaded: 2022-04-13T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 2 min 5 s
Channel: Rory McIlroy
Description: Are you struggling on the driving range right before your round and feeling anxious? Rory McIlroy has a simple answer: he’s had plenty of bad warm-ups followed by good rounds. For him, the warm-up is about loosening up and getting a feel for his swing that day—not about fixing it.

Are you struggling on the driving range right before your round and feeling anxious? Rory McIlroy has a simple answer: he’s had plenty of bad warm-ups followed by good rounds. For him, the warm-up is about loosening up and getting a feel for his swing that day—not about fixing it.

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Rory McIlroy · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

11 minSame problemGolf: 6 Mobility Exercises for People Over 60HansenFitnessForGolf · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors 8 minNext Level UpCéline Boutier's Warm-up Before a TournamentCéline Boutier · Intermediate 1 minFrom the same proThe Bump and Run Chip: Rory McIlroyRory McIlroy · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

When asked by GolfPass, Rory McIlroy put it bluntly: He had a lot of bad warm-ups followed by good games, and some of his best shots have come after a poor driving range session. He doesn’t analyze every shot. He just tries to figure out where his swing is at that day. Even when he’s playing well, he still has his usual miss—to the right or to the left; on the course, he plays away from that side and gives himself a little more room to work with.

His message can be summed up in one sentence: A warm-up is not a practice session, and every golfer needs to know the difference. Before the round, he wants to to loosen up, feel your body settled, and find good contact, without worrying about where the ball goes. Then he heads out on the course and forgets what he did at the driving range, without paying any attention to the results.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Before your round, treat the driving range as a warm-up, not as a practice session.
First, try to loosen up and get a sense of your body's position.
Focus on the quality of your contact rather than the direction of the balls.
Simply identify your mistake of the day—whether it's on the right or the left—without trying to correct it.
On the course, aim so that you have more room to spare on the side of that missed shot.
At the first tee, put your results from the driving range behind you.

Key Takeaways

A poor warm-up doesn't necessarily mean a bad round, according to Rory McIlroy.

The warm-up isn't a driving range session: you don't correct your swing during it.

The goal: to loosen up, become aware of your body, and establish good contact.

The direction of the ball doesn't matter much before the game.

Everyone has their usual flaw: on the course, you play by compensating for it.

Once you're on the tee, you forget what happened on the driving range.

Mistakes to Avoid

Tweaking your swing at the driving range right before your round.
Analyze every warm-up pitch.
Setting out feeling anxious because the warm-up didn't go well.
Confusing a warm-up with a workout.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

A short warm-up focused on contact, without any specific direction
Technical practice sessions scheduled for days other than game days
Observing today's missed shot to adjust aim on the course

Your Questions

Does a poor warm-up mean a bad game?

Not according to Rory McIlroy. He's had plenty of bad warm-ups followed by good rounds, and some of his best scores have come after a poor driving range session.

What is Rory McIlroy looking for during his warm-up?

He wants to loosen up, feel his body in the right position, and make solid contact. He doesn't worry much about the ball's direction and doesn't overanalyze every shot.

Should you adjust your swing right before you play?

No. Rory McIlroy emphasizes the difference between a warm-up and a practice session on the driving range: before a round, you get a feel for your swing that day—you don't try to rebuild it.

What should you do about your usual mishit on the course?

Rory McIlroy points out that everyone has a bad shot now and then, even when playing well. On the course, he plays his shots a bit to the side and gives himself a little more leeway.

Learn More

All “Warm-up and Mobility” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Psychology & Mental Health” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Rory McIlroy's Hip Rotation: The Right Side KeyRory doesn't work on his hips: he keeps his elbow, hip, and knee straight at impact, and warms up with dynamic stretches. Céline Boutier's Warm-up Before a TournamentCéline Boutier starts by calibrating her wedges from 30 to 75 yards, then works up through the bag four or five balls per club, always at a target. Golf: 6 Mobility Exercises for People Over 60Mobility, stability, balance: the three weaknesses a fitness trainer often finds in golfers over 60, and two exercises for each. Rory McIlroyAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Rory McIlroy). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.